Maine is an
extraordinary state for rockhounding. The
State is well known for its pegmatites and related gemstones. The
pegmatites (course-grained granites) located in western Maine have yielded an
abundance of gem quality minerals including tourmaline, aquamarine, beryl,
topaz, spodumene, morganite, smoky quartz, rose quartz, and amethyst. Maine
is famous for its tourmaline. In
addition, at least five meteorite falls have been documented in Maine.

State
Rocks, Gemstones, Minerals, Fossils, & Dinosaurs

Rockhounding Tip: Knowing state rocks, gemstones, minerals,
fossils, and dinosaurs often can be very useful information for
rockhounders. Ordinarily, states with
significant mineral deposits, valuable gemstones, fossils, or unusual or
significant rock occurrences will designate an official state mineral,
rock/stone, gemstone, fossil, or dinosaur to promote interest in the state’s
natural resources, history, tourism, etc.
Accordingly, such state symbols often are a valuable clue as to
potential worthwhile rockhounding opportunities.

Tourmaline

State Mineral: Tourmaline (1971) Maine designated Tourmaline as its state mineral
in 1971. The name comes from the Sri-Lankan word turamali, which was used to
describe early gemstones. Tourmaline actually describes a variety of minerals
with similar crystal structures that
vary in composition and color. Two
species of the tourmaline group are widespread in the igneous rocks of
southwestern Maine. A black, iron-bearing tourmaline called
schorl is Maine’s most common tourmaline. Elbaite, a very colorful but less common
variety, is a lithium-bearing tourmaline that forms
beautiful crystals in pink, green, blue, or combinations of these colors. Maine, along with California yields beautiful
gem grade tourmaline. Maine tourmaline occurs in various colors. There is even a “watermelon” variety with a
green outer layer surrounding a pink core. Some Maine specimens rival the best tourmaline
from California, Brazil, and the Himalayas. The
first major tourmaline discovery in Maine occurred in 1820 at Mount Mica in
Paris. The famous story of the discovery
by two boys exploring the local countryside was related by Augustus Hamlin in
his 1895 book entitled "The History of Mount Mica." Many other tourmaline deposits have been
found in Maine over the years. Sharp
crystals of black tourmaline are widespread in pegmatites of Oxford,
Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, and Cumberland Counties. The colored crystals occur mainly in Oxford
County and the Auburn-Poland area. It is
curious that the best gem-producing localities lie on a straight line extending
southeastward through this part of the state.
In 1972 a spectacular series of large tourmaline pockets was opened at
the Dunton Mine in Newry. Many fabulous red and green crystals were
found, including the ten-inch “Jolly Green Giant,” which is now in the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Tourmaline, because it is strongly piezoelectric (a property where
electricity flow is controlled by changes in pressure) is used in the
manufacture of pressure gauges.

Pertica quadrifaria

State
Fossil: Pertica quadrifaria (1985)Maine designated Pertica quadrifaria as
its official state fossil in 1985. Pertica
quadrifaria is the scientific name of a primitive plant that lived about 390
million years ago during the Devonian Period. Its fossilized remains were discovered in 1968
in the rocks of the Trout Valley Formation in Baxter State Park near Mount
Katahdin. Based on the type of rock it
is found in today and the other fossils associated with it, Pertica quadrifaria
grew in a brackish or freshwater marsh near an active volcano. Fragments of the plants were preserved when
they fell into the marsh and were covered by sediment before they could decay. After millions of years of burial, the plant
remains are now exposed along eroding stream banks. The Pertica quadrifaria probably reached a
maximum height of about six feet, making it the largest land plant at that time
(Pertica is a Latin word meaning a "long pole or rod"). Its stem, which measured up to one inch in
diameter, had both sterile and fertile branches arranged in four rows that
spiraled up the stem (quadrifaria means "in four ranks"). The fertile branches ended in dense clusters
of sporangia, or spore cases, while the sterile branches subdivided to form
forked tips. These forked ends may
represent the first step in the evolution of leaves. Pertica quadrifaria was selected as the Maine
State Fossil for several reasons. It was
first discovered in Maine. It is also a
rare fossil; well-preserved remains of Pertica are found at only three other
places in the world besides Maine.

Rockhounding
Resources

State-specific rockhounding books (including the books listed here as well as other books), regional rockhounding site guides, and other helpful rockhounding resources are identified - by category - in the Books & Gear section of Gator Girl Rocks with a link to the Gator Girl Rocks Amazon Store where you may easily browse selected resources and securely place an order. Your order will benefit Charity Rocks!

Maine Geological SurveyThe Maine Geological Survey has a display and
reference collection of rocks and minerals that is open to the public during
office hours. The rock and mineral collection contains specimens from
localities in Maine and elsewhere in the country.

Maine State MuseumAugusta, MaineThe Maine State Museum, located near the state
capitol building, includes the collection of the Geological Survey. The collection includes gems and several
stunning tourmaline crystals.

Acadia National ParkMount Desert Island, MaineAcadia National Park is the first national park
located east of the Mississippi River (and originally was named Lafayette
National Park). The Park includes many
geologic features resulting from the nearly two-mile thick ice sheet that
covered the area during the ice age. The
glaciers carved the area and left erratics.
Perhaps the most obvious reminder of Acadia's
glacial legacy, however, is the fjord-like Somes Sound (the only feature of its
kind on the U.S. Atlantic Coast) with its deeply carved head and shallow mouth
of glacial deposits. In addition, the peak of Cadillac Mountain offers one
of the first views of sunrise in the United States.

Easternmost Point in the United StatesWest Quoddy Head, MaineWest Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine is the easternmost
point of the United States and the closest point to Europe. West Quoddy Head overlooks Quoddy Narrows, a
straight between the United States and Canada.

Rockhounding
Sites for Children & Families

Amethyst from Mt. Apatite

Quarry CollectingMt. Apatite Park – Auburn, MaineA popular (and free) collecting site is the
group of quarries on the east side of Mt. Apatite in Auburn. This area is called Mt. Apatite Park,
administered by the City of Auburn. These
quarries are among a small number of mineral collecting sites in Maine that
offer a combination of good public access and the possibility of finding many
different minerals. The ledges and boulders surrounding the quarry pits show
interesting geological features, including basalt dikes cutting granite
pegmatite, and interlayering of pegmatite with metamorphic rock. The coarse pegmatite shows large, easily
visible examples of several common rock-forming mineral groups such as quartz,
feldspar, and mica. Various features
around the quarries illustrate former mining techniques and the linkages
between Maine's geologic and human history.

Sodalite from Litchfield

SodaliteLitchfield, Kennebec County, MaineThis locality is best known
for its sodalite and cancrinite specimens (“litchfieldite” is a name applied to
the rock in which they occur). The
sodalite is blue and usually occurs as small patches in the syenite, but larger
masses (some with rough crystals of yellow cancrinite) are occasionally
found. Exceptional zircon crystals to 1
inch in size have been collected in recent years.

AmethystWhite Mountain National ForestTwo well-known collecting sites are located in
the White Mountain National Forest near the border with New Hampshire. This is the parking and check-in point at the
trailhead for the Deer Hill amethyst locality in Stow. A small fee is required at this site.

Topaz, Smoky Quartz, BerylLord Hill Quarry – Stoneham, MaineThe Lord Hill Quarry in Stoneham is located
within the National Forest, but no fee is collected here. Visitors hike to the quarry on an old woods
road. Lord Hill is a pegmatite locality
formerly worked for feldspar.
Bluish-white topaz, smoky quartz crystals, beryl, and tiny crystals of
columbite and fluorapatite are among the minerals found here.

Tamminen QuarryGreenwood, Oxford County, MaineDiscovered by a feldspar mining
operation in the 1930's, this quarry was a productive mine for many years. Feldspar was the main commercial product. The
quarry has produced specimens of many minerals, but is best known for its rare
pseudo-cubic quartz crystals.